Years Ago Farm Connections

1937

I come from agricultural roots and this is my connection to the past. Way back then, farming was a family unit, and even today most of it remains so. 

1812

I am not and was never a farmer. My parents were not farmers, nor my siblings. I definitely feel as if I once could have been. I know the seasonal times, how backs hurt, hands develop calluses, sun is hot, and rain is important. Perhaps it is because I view the old photos and think I am there with them. It’s just a feeling.

1918

Sure, I went to many farms with my dad when he was on the job of dairy tester throughout the state of NJ. I helped in the “Victory Garden” during world war II. I have planted gardens. Rabbits, chickens, horses, and other farm animals have always been a part of my life. I have old fashioned home skills and I’m fortunate to live where there are still working farms, the air is clear and the neighbors are generous and kind.

1918

 These pictures are my direct ancestors who worked the earth and reaped its bounty. They were resourceful and diligent. Rural roots are the tapestry of my life. Old family farm photos are the harvest for my soul. I have many additional pictures, but unfortunately they are pasted into old and worn albums and I’m unable to scan them. I appreciate that they were passed on to me. I come from good stock!

1918

1914

1910
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I would encourage everyone to thank a farmer for all they do and for all they provide.

These are a few of my notes taken from an old daily diary that was written by a family member throughout one year in 1860. Farm work was never easy.

Chores (in order of Happening)

• Hauled logs and posts
• Hauled corn, chopped wood, loaded logs
• Thrashed seed clover
• Cleaned clover seed
• Hauled fodder* and rolled logs 
• Delivered corn to Tiffin
• Husked 4 shocks* of corn 
• Hauled corn fodder
• Chopped cord wood
• Knocked off corn stubbles
• Built fence for sheep
• Chopped wood in woods for free use
• Hauled rails and wood
• Chopped logs to saw by horse power
• Sawed logs with the crosscut saw
• Took apples out of the hole
• Dug out a trench
• Filled in a trench
• Hauled manure
• Hauled manure on garden
• Dragged logs to saw by horse power
• Went for lumber in another town
• Sawed wood by horse power
• Hauled chips
• Cleared up the door yard
• Harrowed the door yard
• Worked in the garden
• Transplanted fruit and forest trees
• Plowed for oats
• Sowed clover seed
• Trimmed apple trees
• Cleared the door yard
• Hauled out clover chaff*
• Planted potatoes
• Plowed corn ground many days in a row in April & May
• Shopped for seed corn
• Harrowed and furrowed out corn ground
• Planted corn on new ground
• Plowed part of garden and bean patch
• Hoed the garden
• Whitewashed
• Dressed up the orchard
• Sowed buckwheat and harrowed it in
• Loaded corn
• Washed sheep
• Plowed follow* many days in May & June 
• Replanted corn twice
• Sheared sheep
• Plowed corn many times in June
• Changed the stock to the new ground
• Mowed with machine
• Drawed in dray*
• Drawed* in two loads of sawed wood
• Burned a log pile
• Went in harvest with the reaper
• Harvested for Blair and for Lynch
• Bought some lambs
• Cradled* wheat for William Gibbs
• Plowed potatoes
• Harrowed follow
• Drawed wheat with two wagons several times
• Helped thrash for Frank Baker
• Topped out wheat stacks
• Fenced the wheat stacks
• Drawed in oats
• Repaired fence
• Drawed up two loads of wheat, went to Tiffin & sold it
• Plowed 9 acre field
• Burned stubble
• Filled the lane
• Separated the lambs from the ewes
• Plowed in the spring field
• Plowed in the corner field
• Cut apples
• Hauled out old stack bottom
• Sowed wheat in the little run field
• Drilled in wheat and timothy seed in the Spring field
• Shoveled the wheat about in the bin to keep from spoiling
• Cut corn
• Sowed 231/2 bushels of wheat on 14 acres in the follow field
• Sowed 171/2 bushels of wheat on 9 acres in the stubble field
• Cracked down the buckwheat in the orchard
• Reaped seed clover
• Cleaned up loads of wheat
• Cut buckwheat
• Hauled off some corn
• Hauled some pumpkins several times
• Drawed in load of seed clover
• Thrashed rye
• Brought straw bundles 
• Husked corn and drawed it in for election day for state
• Drawed in 2 loads pumpkins
• Thrashed 4 loads of buckwheat
• Drawed in 7 loads seed clover
• Thrashed 6 loads buckwheat
• Repaired bridge
• Thrashed oats with machine
• Dug potatoes
• Picked up cider mill at Wm. Gibbs
• Made cider
• Picked winter apples
• Cleaned out bath wells and cistern
• Hauled wood
• Finished digging potatoes 
• Drawed 10 loads pumpkins
• Finished picking winter apples
• Marked the pigs from up the hogs to fat
• Husked corn several days
• Turned the pigs in the woods
• Delivered 2 loads of wheat several trips
• Got horses shod
• Lost the third hog
• Picked cider apples
• Drawed one load of onions
• Drawed 4 loads corn
• Husked 4 loads of corn and drawed it in (thrice)
• Myself husked 80 bushels of corn ears or 5 bushels of shelled corn. “Who can beat it.”
• Thrashed buckwheat
• Took a barrel buckwheat to Mexico
• Buried potatoes and cabbage
• Fenced stacks
• Husked corn, drawed a lold of wood, drawed in last of pumpkins
• Killed a pig
• Husked 61 stacks of corn (4 bushels myself) Snowed
• Repaired barnyard fence
• Fenced the apples and potato holes
• Buried the apples
• Finished drawing corn fodder for this year
• Drawed corn fodder and straw to cover the shed
• Hauled rails and fenced the corn fodder by the barn
• Cleaned barn to prepare for seed clover thrashing
• Helped J. C. Lynch thrash and clean clover seed with Heckman's machine
• Prepared for butchering pork or hogs
• Helped J.C. Lynch butcher his pork, killed 8 hogs
• Cut up pork and put it down - (on Christmas Day)
• Helped J.C. Lynch trying out* lard and making sausage for two days
• Sawed wood at the woodpile
• Chopped wood on the woodpile - (December 31)

If you ever would be interested in reading the entire diary, I have scanned the delicate pages and put them in a blog at this link.
 1860 Farm Worker's Diary